Trigger actuated portable spray head



Nov. 28, 1950 F. H. ELLINGER TRIGGER ACTUATED PORTABLE SPRAY HEAD Filed Oct. 30, 1948 INVENTQR Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED `sr-Mls Param HOFFICE:

TRIGGER Ao'rUATEDiPoRTABLE SPRAY HEAD Flora H. EllingelgfChicagofll.- Application .Ootoher :30, 1948,Seriaal No. 57,529V

rt'olanns. (01.129,9-84) The present inventionrelates generally `to improvements inthe .artof sprayingliquid for wasliing, `rinsing and analogous purposes, and relates more `particularly -to improvements `in the construction and operation `of water spray and` soap dispensing j-devices `for dish `washing and lka-purposes.

.aA primary `object of my :invention `is `to provide :an simproved trigger actuatedportable spray head which is simple, compact .and ldurable 4in construction, and which `:is :moreover highly peilicient in operation.

'Numerous 'types of portablespray headsespecially adapted jfor :washing dishes, or the like, with a mixture .of soap `and `Water and ,for :thereafter rinsing thewashed articles with clearjwater have heretofore been proposed, andl am `aware of the fact that someof these Aprior devices utilized `:liquid soap in the :washing operation. uAlthough afew of theseprior sprayingassemblages haveproven quite satisfactory, considerable `difficulty has been encountered in developinga spraying device whereinthe soap is effectivelyfrnixed with the freshwater supply toproduce auniform and mild; efficient `washingmixture without `undueand undesirable `waste of soap Furthermore, such prior spray washers `have, `for 4thernost part,1been rather bulky and :cumbersome to manipulate,ex pensiveto manufactura; and couldtnotfbelquiclrly and .easily converted ,from thevfreshwater spraying operation to the soap `washingf operationand viceversa. In additionsmanyof thezprior sprays werenot positivetin action,and :had many Workingtparts `which became stuck `orrotherwserouttof working order.

llt is therefore amore specific objectrof my present invention to provide an improved portable Washing and rinsing .spray device which :obviates all of the above-mentioned,disadvantages of .prior spraying assemblages.

Another specic object of this invention isto provide an improved `portable` spray .head :which has a convenient uppergripping `andmanipulating handle, and wherein ,thesoap supply valveiis adapted to be manipulatedby aftriggerinafsimt ple andv convenient manner.

Another specicrobject of the invention is luto provide an improved highly flexible and effective portable spray head which may bereadily supplied with liquidsoap Without dismantling the i,

`unit or removing any parts therefrom, and wherein the `lliqud soapmaypositively be quickly feld "to `the .washing `zone in `varying controlled `amounts l in an `eiicient `and simple manner.

A :i further-1: specic object` of ,t my zpresent `invention is ,to provide `an 4improved trigger actuated portable spraying device wherein `a supply of liquid soapisrhoused within a `compartment en; tirely segregated from the `fresh water `suppl-y chamber, and wherein varying quantities of h', soap `may be quickly fed to ,the washing .Zone i'igi direct response to `theaction of thepsersindeig nger.

i Still another .i-specic `object of the `puesent` vention is Vto provide `an ,improved ,portablespr'ay washer and rinsing device adapted for colllL tion `with `an ordinary faucet `or other suitable source of liquid :under i pressure for dish-washing or llike purposes, and capable ofeifecgtvelyiperv forming washingoperatons in a :quick and sim: ple manner `with a :minimum,arnounttoflscap `An additional specific object `of the preseritin vention is to provide an improved trigger actu.- ated portable rspray head composed `of relatively few parts and adapted ,especially Afor use "a household kitchen appliance and ,which isextremely attractive and durable rin `cons'truction and safe `in operation. Another additionalobject of the presentinven.-A tion is Yto provide ,an improved portable ,spray `unit whichiis positive `in action and flexible and efcientin use, Whichrnaytbe manufactured and sold at` moderate cost, and in `which 1`all parts readily `accessible `for inspection, replacement 01j repair. I, `These rand `other speciic objects iand :advent tages of ,.theinvention Willbe `apparent, `tronithe following `detailed description. i Q,

A clear-:conception ofthe-several,features con; stitutingimy present invention, andtof the ,imode of -constructing tand :of :utilizing ,trigger actpated Aportable @spray heads built in accordance `with theimprovement may behadbyvreferringqto ,the drawing accompanying andforming a partofyths specification, ,wherein like `reference characters designate the same1 orfsirnilarparts in theseveral views. Fig. 1 is a ,partial central `vertical section through -.the improved f; spray pv/washer,shovvrig :the `trigger actuatable valvefforfdeliveringsoaprininormally closed position; and i 1 Fig. l2,zisiatop view of the yimprovednnitmparts being `broken .away gto 4reveal normally `-concealed internal structure. i

`,While the present ,i-inventionihas been-ishwn and described hereinas being` applied topltable spray heads especially ,i adapted for dish was mg and `rinsing `purposes and wherein `waterund'er pressure: is supplied-,thereto througha rubber `hose attachable ato a i faucetnib `is Lnot my ,ileiQU-nr 3 tent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement.

Referring to the drawing, the improved portable spray assemblage shown therein, comprises in general, a pair of oppositely-dished upper and lower members 5, 6, respectively, cooperating to form an approximately spherical main casing 1, the bottom wall of the lower dish-shaped member 6 being provided with a plurality of spaced spray openings B and with a transverse partition 9 dividing the main casing 1 into an upper soapconfining chamber I and a lower fresh water or spray chamber II a flexible tube I2 or the like adapted for attachment at one end to a faucet or other liquid supply source and attached at the other end to a nipple I3 or the like for communication with the interior of the lower spray chamber II a handle I4 having a base portion I5 secured to the upper casing member 5 and being formed with an upper gripping and manipulating portion I6; a bushing I1 or the like snugly confined within a central aperture I8 in the partition 9 and having the lower end thereof seated against the inner surface of the perforated wall of the lower casing member 6, the bushing I1 having a central vertical bore I9 extending therethrough and one or more angularly directed ports or passages 20 communicating at the upper ends thereof with the interior of the soap chamber I0 and terminating at their lower ends in the medial portion of the bore I9, the lower end of the bore I9 being in constant communication with the exterior through an aperture 2| formed in the bottom wall of the lower casing section 6; and a plunger or piston valve 22 snugly but slidably confined within the bore I9 of the bushing I1 for movement past the outlet ends of the ports 20 upon manipulation of a trigger 23 pivotally mounted as at 24 within a recess 25 of the handle I4 and connected to the plunger 22 by means of a link 26, connecting rod 21, link 28, lever 29 and link 30 as will be hereinafter more fully described.

To insure against leakage of soap lrom the upper chamber it to the lower chamber II, the bushing Il may be tightly screw-threaded into the aperture I8 of the partition 9, and the lower end of the bushing may be tightly seated against the lower wall of the casing member by means of a screw 3I, as shown, with the aperture or soap passage 2l being formed directly in the screw 3|. Vertical swinging movement of the trigger 23 about its pivot 24 is imparted to the connecting rod or arm 21 through the link 23, and a bushing 32, snugly embracing the rod 21, is preferably provided in the upper casing member 5 to guide the rod 21 in its vertical reciprocating movement while preventing leakage of soap from the chamber I0. The lever 29 may be pivoted at one end as at 33 to the casing member 5 with the link 28 being attached to a medial portion of the lever 29 for transmitting motion thereto from the rod 21 and with the link 30 being attached to the swinging end of the lever 29 and to the upper end of the piston 22 for transmitting vertical reciprocating movement to this piston from the lever 29.

The piston valve 22 is normally maintained in a position such as shown in Fig. 1 with the ports 20 closed thereby so as to prevent escape of soap from the chamber I9 through the bore I9 and lower aperture 2I, and this may be accomplished by means of a compression spring 34 embracing the rod 21 and ccacting at one end with an inner shoulder on the casing member 5 and at the other end with the lever 29 to constantly urge the lever 4 29 and piston 22 downwardly. To maintain the spring 34 under slight compression and to form a positive stop for the trigger 23 in a position to enable finger actuation thereof, a pin 35 may be provided in the handle I4 spanning the recess 25.

The upper casing member 5 is provided with a top opening 35 to permit filling of the chamber I0 with liquid soap, and this opening 36 may be normally maintained closed by means of a plate 31 secured to the inner side of the dome of the member 5 by means of .a screw or bolt 38, the plate 31 being adapted for snug seating engagement with the wall of the member 5 but being formed with an opening 39 adapted to register with the opening 36 of the casing upon rotation of the plate about the screw 38 with the aid of an actuating arm 40 or the like having an upper manipulating projection 43. To permit dismantling of the unit in the event of trouble, the handle I4 may be attached at its base I5 to the upper casing member 5 by means of bolts or screws 4I, 42 or the like, and the casing members 5, 6 may be conveniently secured to each other as by means of screw threads. The various parts may be readily formed of available materials, and the handle I4 is preferably formed of heat-insulating material to insure utmost safety.

In operation, the chamber I0 of the device may be readily filled with a supply of liquid soap after rotating the plate 31 about the pin 38 by means of the arm 40 until the aperture 39 is in alinement with the aperture 35. The plate 31 may thereafter be swung back to the position shown in the drawing, and with the parts in normal position as illustrated, there will obviously be no leakage or feeding of soap from the chamber I5. After the free end of the hose I2 has been suitably connected to a faucet, not shown, or other source of liquid supply, the device may be conveniently gripped and manipulated by means of the portion I6 of the handle I; and clear liquid under pressure is conducted through the hose or tube I2, past the nipple I3, into the lower chamber II and then through the apertures 8 in the lower casing wall in the form of a spray of clear liquid. If it is desired to supply soap to the spray, it is merely necessary to raise the trigger 23 about its pivot 24 by means of a finger, thereby lifting the rod 21 and swinging the lever 29 about its pivot 33 to raise the piston valve 22 within the bore I9 of the bushing I1 while compressing the spring 34; and as the piston 22 is raised, the ports 20 are opened and a relatively small quantity of liquid soap is permitted to escape from the chamber I0 through the ports 23 into the bore I9 below the plunger 22 and then through the aperture 2l to the washing or spraying zone where suds are created upon intermingling of the soap and spray. Upon release of pressure on the trigger 23, the spring 34 will automatically return the plunger to normal position in an obvious manner whereby the ports 2) will again be closed at their lower extremities and the supply of liquid soap to the spraying zone will cease until the trigger 23 is again actuated.

From the foregoing detailed description, it is apparent that my present invention provides an improved portable spray washer which is simple, compact and durable in construction, and which is furthermore highly flexible and enicient in operation and exceedingly neat and attractive in appearance. The improved washing unit may be readily converted in a simple manner through the use of a finger, by actuation of the trigger 23, from. a fresh water rinsing spray to a soapy Washing spray, and the device uses a minimum quantity of liquid soap with maximum efficiency. The gripping portion i6 of the insulating handle I4 provides for quick and effective manipulation in a simple and convenient manner; and since the gripping portion is remote from the casing 'l and is further spaced from the casing by the base portion I5 of the handle, the device may be manipulated with utmost safety even when operated with extremely hot liquid. In addition to returning the plunger valve 22 quickly and automatically to normally closed position, the spring 34 causes the plunger to force soap from the bore i9 through the opening 2! during downward movement, and provision of the stop pin 35 positively limits return movement of the trigger 23 and maintains the spring 34 under slight constant pressure to insure quick and positive action. Furthermore, it is apparent that the supply of liquid soap in the chamber Ill may be readily replenished in a simple manner by a novice without need for dismantling the device in any way; and if necessary the unit may be dismantled quickly and easily without the need of special equipment. It should also be noted that by forming the soap passage or bore I9 of the bushing I7 concentrically of the partition 9 and casing section 6 with the lever 29 pivoted on the wall of the casing section 5 remote from its connection With the valve 22, the casing sections 5, B may be readily rendered separable by means of screw threads or the like and the valve is moreover highly sensitive and responsive to the action of the eccentrically mounted actuating trigger 23. The device comprises relatively few parts, may be manufactured and sold at moderate cost, and has proven highly satisfactory in actual use.

It should be understood that it is not desired or intended to limit this invention to the exact details of construction, or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

I claim:

l. A liquid and soap spraying device comprising, a universally movable casing having a central lower liquid soap delivery passage and an upper manipulating handle provided with a gripping portion spanning the axis of said passage, a soap confining chamber within said casing adjacent to the handle and having ports fill communicating with the medial portion of said passage, a valve movable within said passage to control the delivery of soap through said ports, and a valve actuating trigger carried by said handle between said casing and said gripping portion.

2. A liquid and soap spraying device comprising, a universally movable casing having a central lower liquid soap delivery passage and an upper manipulating handle provided with a gripping portion spanning the axis of said passage, said handle being provided with a recess at one end of the gripping portion thereof, a soap conning chamber within said casing adjacent to the handle and having ports communicating with the medial portion of said passage, a valve movable within said passage to control the delivery of soap through said ports, a valve actuating trigger pivotally mounted in the recess of said handle and projecting therefrom between said casing and said gripping portion, and a stop cooperable with said trigger for limiting movement thereof while positively positioning said valve.

3. A liquid and soap spraying device comprising, a universally movable casing having a central lower liquid soap delivery passage and an upper manipulating handle provided with a gripping portion spanning the axis of said passage, a soap confining chamber within said casing adjacent to the handle and having ports communicating with the medial portion of said passage, a valve movable within said passage to control the delivery of soap through said ports, a valve actuating lever pivotally mounted within said chamber and connected to said valve, and a trigger carried by said handle between said casing and said gripping portion and operatively connected to a medial portion of said lever for actuating said lever.

FLORA I-I. ELLINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 172,224 Westereld Jan. 11 1876 2,028,214 Hennessy Jan. 21, 1936 2,028,242 Pearl Jan. 21, 1936 2,281,484 Ellinger Apr. 28, 1942 

